Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1908 — Jimmy's Thanksgiving. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Jimmy's Thanksgiving.

By OLIVE HARPER

JIMMY’’ WEBSTER, more properly Geraldine, bad determined to leave her country home to study art In New . York. “1 know 1 am an artist; perhaps 1 am a genius,” she said Her mother said nothing against the project, but new lines formed aroundMier mouth Something had gone out of her father’s eyes

•nd step, and he looked older. He, too, remained silent George , Seabright, when his pleading proved vaiu. merely •aid. "if you find the world too much lor you. let me know.” "Perhaps,” replied the young girl, while her pretty lips took a hard outline new to them. She had SIBO and thought that more than enough to last until fame, and riches came. When she was gone the whole farm seemed empty. Her brave, bright letters told how she and three other girls had rented a photograph loft for only S4O a month. They had made it very artistic, had built wardrobes of packing boxes and made divans of cots covered with denim, which served as cozy beds at night. She told of the screen made of a clotheshorse, covered also with denim, which served to hide their bachelor girl kitchen with its coal oil stove •fid packing box closets for dishes. Her father made no comment on these pitiful makeshifts, but he and George read between the lines. They knew there was something wrong. There was a forced breeziness in the letters. George had loved Jimmy since she was a baby, and he decided 1 as Thanksgiving drew near that he could stand the strain no longer. In th<> meantime the four girls In the gn at, bleak, ancient photographer's gallery were finding it very hard to win fame The rent, though divided among four, was high wheii nothing was corning in They could not afford a stove, and tea and dry bread were their food. .Finally 'one girl .sat down on the floor and began to wail. She was cold and hungry and miserable She was going home, “and art could go to grass!" This voiced the general sentiment, but Jimmy had come from steCner stock, and she wouldn’t give up. Three of the four girls wrote to their parents and in a week had said good by to Jimmy, who faced the question of rent atone. She threw herself on the cot and cried all night with hunger. Cold and the knowledge that she was beaten. From talent to genius was a far cry. and she was no genius. "But I wouldn't care.” she sobbed. “If It were not so near Thanksgiving. At home there’ll be turkey and pies and cake and jellies and—l jnst can t stand It!"

But she never once thought of writing borne for help. The next morning she lay unconscious In her lonely place tossing in fever, while her grieving father and mother were going around heavy footed making preparations for the coming feast. Jimmy lay two nights and a day 111 and alone, when a lady who had an office In the same building had a feeling that something was wrong upstairs and went up to find the poor deserted child. The doctor said she should go to a hospital and that he would send for her. There was a hurried step on the stairs, and In a minute George was on his kness beside tbe cot “Ob, Jimmy, little Jimmy! I knew something was wrong, and I’ve come to take you home if you’ll go.” “Will 1 ? Oh. George, I’ll be so thankful! I’m a failure. George— l’m a fal!urer “I don’t think so. Gan she travel, doctor? I’ll get a carriage. She’ll be home just in time for Thanksgiving.” “It will be that for me,” said Jimmy weakly, while two tears jumped from her eyes, and big George Seabrlght put his arms around her and pressed his first kiss on her quivering Ups regardless of the doctor and the lady. "It will be an eternal Thanksgiving, •'fnamy!” That’s Why. “I bear that he failed In business.” f "Yes. i believe be did.” “But 1 didn’t know be bad a boil--1

“JIMMY.”